- 4 - SEVERAL ACP STATES Assistance to ACP/CEE 5th EDF 1 416 000 ECU business organizations set up Grant to improve production and export marketing of commodities The aim of the project is to help APROMA (Association des Produits a Marche) respond to the requests for assistance it received from ACP companies or organizations involved in developing export sales of "soft" commodities (agricultural and forestry products) incuding coffee, cocoa, oils and fats, timber, hides and skins. Recognizing that success in this field does not depend only on international agreements (e.g. the International Coffee and Cocoa Agreements), but also on comme ...[+++]rcial facilities and skills, APROMA is keen to develop a support programme over three years to provide : - training for ACP managers and administrators from marketing organizations and companies ; - selective up-to-date information to serve as a basis for commercial strategy and trade negotiations ; - specialist coordination in areas relating to the activities of ACP marketing organizations and companies and their dealings with European professionals and colleagues ; - technical assistance to ACP marketing and export bodies to help them improve their organization and operational resources.

* All ACP countries: production and marketing of agricultural products: ECU 5 938 200 Given the alarming situation as regards trade in agricultural commodities produced in the ACP countries, this programme, which will be implemented by the EEC/ACP Association of Market Production (APROMA), will provide ACP producers and exporters with: - advanced training in new production, transport and marketing techniques; - aid for the implementation of promotional campaigns targeting traditional markets and as yet underdeveloped consumer markets ; - aid for a meaningful increase in regional and international trade.

- 4 - The programme, which will be run by the Association of Market Production (APROMA), the ACP-EEC trade organization, will provide producers and exporters in 28 ACP countries with: (i) advanced vocational training in new production, transport and marketing techniques; (ii) assistance with defining and implementing sales promotion schemes on the traditional markets and with investigating conditions for access to new markets.